Broadside collisions—often called T-bone accidents—frequently happen at intersections, where vehicles cross paths at perpendicular angles. These crashes are among the deadliest types of motor vehicle accidents, and they often result in life-altering injuries or fatalities.
Read on to learn why intersections are high-risk zones for broadside collisions, what causes these crashes, and other places they happen. If you suffered injuries or losses in a Richmond auto accident someone else caused, you likely qualify to obtain compensation from those responsible. Reach out to an experienced Richmond car accident attorney near you after a serious crash to determine your options and receive the help you need.
What Is a Broadside Collision?
A broadside collision, often referred to as a T-bone accident or side-impact crash, happens when the front of one vehicle slams into the side of another. The vehicles usually form a "T" shape at the point of impact, which is where the term “T-bone” comes from.
These crashes are especially dangerous because the side of a vehicle offers far less protection than the front or rear. Even in modern vehicles equipped with side-impact airbags, the thin layer of metal and glass on the side can’t absorb the force of a high-speed impact. As a result, broadside collisions often lead to severe injuries or fatalities—especially for passengers seated on the side that takes the hit.
National crash data shows that broadside accidents account for around 20% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. That translates to more than 3,700 lives lost each year due to side-impact collisions.
Whether the result of a driver running a red light, making an unsafe turn, or failing to yield, these accidents often raise serious questions about fault. If you were involved in a side-impact crash, a car accident lawyer in Richmond can help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation from the at-fault driver.
Why Are Broadside Collisions So Dangerous?
Occupants struck from the side face far less protection than in head-on or rear-end crashes. Here’s why these crashes often lead to catastrophic injuries:
Minimal Side Protection
The side panels of most vehicles offer limited reinforcement. Unlike the front or rear, which includes the engine or trunk to absorb impact, the side only has a few inches of material between passengers and the striking vehicle. Even with side airbags, the force from a broadside crash often reaches occupants directly.
Size Differences Between Vehicles
When a large vehicle like an SUV or pickup truck hits the side of a smaller car, the impact often aligns directly with window height. That mismatch can be deadly for anyone seated inside the smaller vehicle.
High-Speed Impact
Most T-bone crashes happen at or near full driving speed. Drivers running red lights or stop signs rarely slow down before impact, which means the energy involved in the crash is significant. That force increases the chance of serious injury or death.
What Causes Broadside Collisions?
Nearly every T-bone accident traces back to someone failing to yield the right-of-way. That typically happens at intersections, but the causes vary. Some of the most common include:
Distracted Driving
A driver who’s texting, adjusting the radio, or simply not paying attention may run a red light or miss a stop sign. Distraction—whether visual, manual, or cognitive—prevents drivers from reacting in time to avoid collisions.
Alcohol or Drug Impairment
Impaired drivers often fail to recognize traffic signals or make poor decisions when turning or crossing intersections. Alcohol slows reaction times and impairs judgment, making T-bone accidents more likely.
Unsafe Left Turns
Left-hand turns across traffic leave the side of a vehicle exposed. If the turning driver misjudges the distance or speed of oncoming traffic, a broadside crash can happen instantly.
Speeding Through Intersections
Drivers who accelerate to "beat the light" or ignore yellow lights increase the risk of T-bone collisions. Speed reduces the time available to react and increases the severity of any crash that follows.
Why Intersections Are the Most Common Site of T-Bone Accidents
Intersections are the leading location for broadside collisions—and with good reason. They bring multiple directions of traffic together, require fast decisions, and often rely on drivers to yield correctly. A single mistake at an intersection can lead to devastating side-impact crashes, especially when vehicles travel at higher speeds or ignore traffic signals.
T-bone accidents typically happen when one driver fails to yield the right-of-way. That can occur when someone runs a red light, rolls through a stop sign, or misjudges a left-hand turn across traffic. When another vehicle strikes the side of a car already in the intersection, the results are often catastrophic.
What Makes Intersections So Dangerous?
Several overlapping factors contribute to the high number of broadside collisions at intersections:
- Conflicting traffic flows: Vehicles travel in multiple directions—straight, left, and right—which increases the risk of crossing paths at the wrong time.
- Split-second decisions: Drivers must process visual cues like traffic lights, signs, and oncoming vehicles all at once.
- Human error: Even a momentary lapse in attention or misjudgment of another vehicle's speed can result in a serious crash.
- Limited visibility: At busy or poorly designed intersections, obstructions like trees, parked cars, or buildings can block a driver’s view.
Drivers who speed through a yellow light, rush a turn, or get distracted while approaching an intersection often don’t have time to react to cross traffic, leading to violent side-impact collisions.
How Traffic Engineers Work to Reduce Broadside Crashes
Because intersections are a known danger zone, city and state agencies often take steps to reduce crash risks. In some areas, engineers replace traditional intersections with roundabouts, which slow traffic and minimize crossing conflicts. These designs reduce the likelihood of T-bone crashes by keeping vehicles moving in the same direction and at lower speeds.
Other strategies used to reduce broadside collisions include:
- Installing red-light cameras to deter signal violations
- Increasing yellow-light duration for safer transitions
- Adding better lighting and signage to improve visibility
Even with these safety improvements, intersections remain one of the most common places where serious collisions occur. When a broadside crash happens at a busy intersection, a Richmond car accident attorney can help gather traffic camera footage, witness statements, and other evidence to support your case.
Other Places Where Broadside Collisions Occur
Although intersections are the most common site, broadside accidents also happen in other locations:
Parking Lots
Low-speed T-bone crashes often happen in parking lots, especially when drivers back out or turn without checking for cross-traffic.
Driveway Exits
When a driver pulls out from a private driveway into a busy street without a clear view, they may cross into the path of an oncoming car.
Highway On-Ramps or Off-Ramps
Improper merging or sudden lane changes near ramps can lead to side-impact collisions, especially if traffic is moving quickly.
Common Injuries in Broadside Crashes
Broadside collisions often leave victims with serious, sometimes life-altering injuries. When the side of a vehicle takes a direct hit—especially at high speed—the occupants are far more exposed than they would be in a head-on or rear-end crash. The limited structure and cushioning on the sides of most vehicles provide little protection from the force of impact.
T-bone crashes frequently lead to emergency room visits, extended hospital stays, and long-term recovery. Some victims never regain full mobility or function, while others live with permanent impairments.
A Richmond car accident lawyer often represents clients suffering from:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
The violent jolt of a side-impact crash can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull. TBIs range from concussions to severe brain damage, leading to memory loss, cognitive problems, or long-term disability.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The sudden force in a broadside crash can compress or damage the spine. Victims may suffer herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, or— in the most severe cases—paralysis.
Internal Injuries
Vital organs such as the liver, spleen, or lungs can be punctured or bruised during the crash. Internal bleeding may not be visible right away, which makes immediate medical attention critical after a T-bone accident.
Broken Bones
Arms, ribs, collarbones, and hips are all vulnerable in a side-impact crash. The angle of the collision often forces the body into unnatural positions, leading to fractures that require surgery or extended rehabilitation.
Neck and Back Injuries
Even in lower-speed T-bone crashes, the sudden movement can strain muscles, ligaments, and discs in the neck and back. Whiplash is especially common, but some injuries may worsen over time if untreated.
Facial Injuries and Lacerations
Glass shards, deployed airbags, and crushed side panels can cause deep cuts, bruises, or even disfigurement. These injuries sometimes require reconstructive surgery and leave permanent scarring.
Emotional and Psychological Impact
In addition to physical trauma, many victims of broadside collisions deal with emotional distress, such as anxiety, sleep disturbances, or symptoms of post-traumatic stress. These effects often interfere with daily life, relationships, and the ability to work or drive again.
A car accident attorney in Richmond can help ensure that emotional harm is considered when calculating the full impact of your injuries. Compensation should reflect not just visible injuries, but the hidden toll that a serious crash leaves behind.
What a Richmond Car Accident Lawyer Can Do to Help
A car accident lawyer in Richmond can help injured victims pursue financial recovery after a broadside crash. These collisions often involve complex questions about who had the right-of-way, whether a traffic signal malfunctioned, or whether distracted or impaired driving played a role.
How a Richmond Car Accident Attorney Supports Your Claim
A Richmond car accident lawyer can support your case by:
- Investigating the scene and gathering evidence such as surveillance footage or police reports
- Consulting accident reconstruction specialists when needed
- Identifying all liable parties, which may include other drivers, rideshare companies, or even local municipalities
- Calculating damages, including current and future medical costs, lost income, and more
- Handling all communication with insurance companies to prevent lowball settlements
- Filing lawsuits when the at-fault party refuses to take responsibility
When insurance companies try to downplay the seriousness of your injuries or delay your claim, a car accident attorney in Richmond can step in and apply pressure to pursue fair compensation.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Compensation for broadside collision victims depends on the extent of the injuries and the circumstances of the crash. A Richmond car accident attorney may help you recover money for:
- Emergency care, surgeries, and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages during recovery
- Reduced future earning potential due to lasting impairments
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life
In cases involving fatal accidents, surviving family members may also bring a wrongful death claim to cover funeral costs and loss of companionship.
When to Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Richmond
You don’t need to deal with legal paperwork or insurance adjusters while recovering from serious injuries. Virginia’s statute of limitations allows you two years from the date of the crash to file a claim. Claims against government entities have shorter deadlines and additional legal complexities.
Don’t wait. Reaching out to a car accident lawyer in Richmond early not only protects your rights, it gives your case the best possible foundation. The sooner your legal team can begin gathering evidence, the stronger your claim becomes.
Talk to a Richmond Car Accident Lawyer at Emroch & Kilduff
If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a T-bone collision in Richmond or anywhere in Virginia, you have legal options. The team at Emroch & Kilduff has handled serious injury claims throughout the state, including complex broadside crashes.
Our personal injury attorneys work to secure meaningful compensation for accident victims so they can focus on healing. We’ll investigate the accident, handle the insurance negotiations, and pursue a full and fair outcome on your behalf.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a Richmond car accident attorney. Let Emroch & Kilduff help you move forward after a serious crash.
